Speediance Gym Monster Reviews : Is It Worth It?

If you have ever tried to fit a squat rack, a cable machine, and a rowing bench into a spare bedroom or a garage that actually needs to park a car, you know the struggle of home gym math.

The Speediance Gym Monster promises to solve this equation by packing an entire commercial gym’s worth of functionality into a device that takes up less floor space than a dining chair when folded. It is the “Swiss Army Knife” of fitness—compact, digital, and surprisingly powerful.

Buy this product if: You are tight on space (like an apartment or shared room) and want a comprehensive full-body workout solution without paying a mandatory monthly subscription fee forever.

Pass on this product if: You are an elite powerlifter who needs to move more than 300+ lbs regularly, or if you get frustrated by technology glitches and want a customer service team that responds instantly to emails.

My Experience With Speediance Gym Monster

I was skeptical when I first saw the Speediance Gym Monster.

My previous experience with “all-in-one” home gyms usually involved flimsy bows, questionable resistance bands, or machines that turned into expensive clothes hangers within a month.

But living in a city apartment where drilling into the studs for a Tonal was a lease violation, my options were limited.

I needed something freestanding, heavy enough to challenge me, but small enough to disappear when I had guests over.

The delivery was a beast—literally. While the footprint is small, the box is heavy (over 200 lbs). Getting it into my living room was a two-person job, so do not try to be a hero and move it alone. Once out of the box, the “no assembly” claim was mostly true for the main unit. You just fold down the platform, plug it in, and the screen lights up. However, the accessories—the bench, the rowing rail—did require a bit of setup.

My first workout was… weird, but in a good way. If you are used to the dead weight of iron plates, digital weight feels “alive.” I selected a standard squat program. As I lowered into the squat, the cables felt smooth, but the real magic happened when I turned on “Spotter Mode.” On my last rep, when I started to struggle halfway up, the machine actually sensed my fatigue and lowered the weight instantly so I could finish the rep safely. It was like having a training partner right there, without the awkward small talk.

The screen is massive and responsive, though I did notice a few times where the interface lagged slightly when switching between exercises. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, just a reminder that this is a computer as much as it is a gym. The “Bluetooth Ring” is a little accessory that fits on your finger to turn the weight on and off. It took me about three workouts to get used to it; at first, I kept accidentally hitting the button mid-set, killing the resistance. Now, it feels like second nature—click to start, click to stop.

One specific moment that sold me was the transition from strength to cardio. I finished a heavy set of deadlifts, and within 60 seconds, I had clicked the rowing bench into place and was rowing down a virtual river. The ability to switch modalities so quickly kept my heart rate up and made my 45-minute workout feel incredibly efficient.

It is not perfect—the plastic casing on the smart handles feels a bit cheap compared to the premium feel of the motor unit—but the convenience factor is unmatched. I can get a legitimate, sweat-drenched workout in my pajamas before my morning coffee, and then fold the whole thing up against the wall before my Zoom meeting starts.

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Pros Of Speediance Gym Monster

• No Mandatory Subscription Fee: This is the absolute biggest selling point and the main reason people choose Speediance over its primary competitor, Tonal. Most smart gyms hold your hardware hostage; if you stop paying their $50-$60 monthly membership, the machine becomes a useless brick or loses all its digital resistance features. Speediance takes a different approach. You buy the machine, and the “Free Lift” mode, along with a vast library of movements and basic programs, works right out of the box forever. They do have a premium membership for advanced data tracking and new classes, but it is genuinely optional. You can build your own custom workouts, track your reps, and use all the advanced modes (like eccentric and chains) without paying a cent extra per month. Over five years, this saves you thousands of dollars compared to other smart gym ecosystems.
• Incredible Space Efficiency: The engineering required to fit dual motors, a 21.5-inch touchscreen, and a pulley system into a frame that folds up to occupy just 3.2 square feet is impressive. When the platform is folded up, it sits flush against the wall without needing to be bolted to it. This makes it perfect for renters who cannot damage their walls or for homeowners who don’t want a permanent gym fixture in their multipurpose room. The wheels on the back allow you to tilt and roll it (though it is heavy, so you won’t want to move it far), meaning you can pull it out to the center of the room for a workout and tuck it away in a corner afterwards. It effectively turns any 6×6 foot open space into a commercial-grade gym instantly.

• Versatile “4-In-1” Functionality: Most home gym machines are one-trick ponies. A treadmill is for running; a squat rack is for lifting. The Speediance markets itself as a cardio and strength hybrid, and it actually delivers. By using the digital motors, it can simulate the drag of water for rowing (using the rowing bench attachment) or the resistance of snow for skiing (using the ski handles). You can go from heavy, low-rep bench presses to high-intensity interval training on the ski erg in seconds. This variety prevents the boredom that usually kills home workout routines. You aren’t just lifting weights; you are rowing, skiing, and doing functional cable work. The adjustable pulley positions—from the floor all the way to the top of the tower—mean you can perform everything from bicep curls and lateral raises to lat pulldowns and face pulls with proper biomechanics.
• Advanced Digital Weight Modes: If you are a fitness nerd, you will love the software capabilities that digital weight allows. Gravity is constant, but motors can change. Speediance offers modes like “Eccentric,” which adds more weight on the lowering phase of a lift (where you are stronger) and less on the lifting phase. This is a proven way to build muscle faster that is almost impossible to replicate with dumbbells without a spotter. There is also “Chains” mode, where the weight gets heavier as you lift it (simulating a chain lifting off the floor), which is fantastic for breaking through plateaus on squats or bench presses. The “Spotter” mode is a safety game-changer for solo lifters, automatically deloading the weight if it detects you are stuck, preventing you from getting pinned under a heavy bar.

Cons Of Speediance Gym Monster

• Customer Service Is Hard To Reach: If there is one major red flag with Speediance, it is the after-sales support. A quick browse through online forums reveals a consistent pattern of frustration. The company is based in China, and the time zone difference combined with a small support team means that email responses can take days, sometimes weeks. If you receive a unit with a cracked screen or a malfunctioning motor, getting a replacement arranged can be a test of patience. Unlike buying from a local retailer where you can just drive it back to the store, you are dealing with international shipping logistics and email chains that often feel like they are going nowhere. You have to be comfortable with a bit of “self-service” troubleshooting or waiting for parts to arrive if something goes wrong.
• Cable Wear And Tear Concerns: The cables on the Speediance are made of high-strength synthetic fiber, not steel wire. While they are rated for high loads, they are still susceptible to friction and fraying over time, especially if the pulleys aren’t perfectly aligned or if the cable rubs against the casing during wide-angle movements. Several users have reported needing to replace cables after a year or two of heavy use. While replacing them is possible (and Speediance sells replacement kits), it is a fiddly maintenance task that involves opening up the machine. It is not as “set it and forget it” as a traditional iron gym. You need to be vigilant about inspecting the lines; if a cable snaps under a 200 lb load, it can be dangerous.
• 220 lb Weight Limit Cap: For 90% of the population, 220 lbs (100 kg) of digital resistance is more than enough. Digital weight feels heavier than free weights because there is no momentum to help you; 220 lbs on Speediance feels closer to 260+ lbs on a barbell. However, for serious strength athletes, powerlifters, or large individuals, this cap will eventually be a limitation, particularly on leg exercises like deadlifts and squats. You cannot add more plates. Once you max out the machine, your only option for progressive overload is to add more reps, slow down the tempo, or use the advanced modes. If your goal is to deadlift 500 lbs, this machine physically cannot accommodate you.
• Software Glitches And App Quality: While the hardware is solid, the software can sometimes feel like a work in progress. Users frequently report bugs after firmware updates, such as the Bluetooth ring disconnecting mid-set, the rep counter missing reps, or the screen freezing. The English translation in the interface and the instructional videos can sometimes be awkward or unclear (“Keep muscle tight for power success!”). The companion mobile app is also quite basic compared to the polished ecosystems of Apple Fitness or Peloton. It tracks your data, sure, but it lacks the community features, social challenges, and seamless polish that you might expect from a device at this price point. You are an early adopter here, which means you are effectively a beta tester for their software team.

Maintenance Tips For Speediance Gym Monster

• The “Tug Check” Ritual: Before every single workout, you should perform a “tug check.” This means pulling the cables out a few inches and visually inspecting the first foot or two of the line—this is the area most likely to fray since it sits near the pulley. Check the carabiners (the metal clips) to ensure they are fully closed and not bent. Also, give the accessory you are using (the handle, the bar, or the rope) a firm yank to make sure it is securely locked into the cable connector. The Speediance uses a specific locking mechanism that can sometimes click without fully engaging. A quick tug ensures the handle won’t fly off and hit you in the face during a high-row.
• Screen And Surface Care: The massive 21.5-inch touchscreen is the brain of the operation, and it collects sweat and fingerprints like a magnet. After every session, use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe it down. Do not spray cleaner directly onto the screen; spray it on the cloth first to avoid liquid dripping into the bezel and shorting out the electronics. For the matte black finish of the body and the platform, a damp cloth with mild water is sufficient. Sweat is corrosive—over time, the salt in your sweat can rust the metal bolts on the platform or the hinges. Wiping it dry after a heavy session will keep the machine looking and folding smoothly for years.
• Cable Preservation Techniques: How you pull the cables matters. Try to pull in a straight line relative to the pulley swivel as much as possible. If you are constantly pulling the cable at a sharp 90-degree angle against the plastic housing, you are acting like a saw, cutting into both the machine and the cable itself. If you are doing an exercise that requires a wide angle (like a cable fly), make sure you have adjusted the pulley height and the swivel arm to follow your path of motion. Additionally, keep the cables clean. If you have pets, dog hair can stick to the lubricated parts of the internal mechanism. Vacuum around the base of the machine regularly to prevent dust bunnies from getting sucked into the motor housing.
• Software Hygiene: Just like your phone or laptop, the Speediance needs to be restarted occasionally to clear its cache and run smoothly. Do not just leave it in “sleep” mode forever. Once a week, fully power down the machine using the physical switch on the base, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This simple step often resolves connectivity issues with the Bluetooth ring or audio lag. Also, keep an eye on firmware updates. The machine will usually prompt you, but make sure you are on a stable Wi-Fi connection before hitting “update.” A failed update due to dropped Wi-Fi can lead to a headache of a reset process.
• Lubrication Of Moving Parts: The folding platform and the sliding tracks for the adjustable pulleys have moving metal-on-metal or metal-on-plastic contact points. Every few months, check the manual for recommended lubrication points. Usually, a small amount of silicone-based lubricant on the pulley slider track (not the cable itself!) can make the height adjustment much smoother. If the slider starts to stick or requires a lot of force to move up and down, it is crying out for lubrication. Do not use WD-40, as it attracts dust and grime; stick to a dry silicone spray or the specific grease recommended by the manufacturer.

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Comparison with Other Brands

• Speediance Gym Monster vs. Tonal:Tonal is the undisputed king of the smart gym market, but Speediance is the rebel usurper. The biggest difference is installation and cost. Tonal must be bolted to your wall studs by a professional. If you have metal studs, weird spacing, or are renting, Tonal is a no-go. Speediance is freestanding and requires zero installation. Then there is the price: Tonal costs around $4,000 plus a mandatory $60/month subscription for the first year. Speediance is significantly cheaper upfront and has no mandatory subscription.However, Tonal feels more premium. The magnetic resistance is smoother, the build quality is higher (more metal, less plastic), and the AI coaching is vastly superior. Tonal’s software learns your strength faster and suggests weight increases more intelligently. If money is no object and you own your home, Tonal is the better product. If you want 90% of the Tonal experience for 60% of the cost and zero monthly fees, Speediance wins.
• Speediance Gym Monster vs. Vitruvian Trainer+:The Vitruvian is a flat platform that sits on the floor; it has no vertical tower. This means all the resistance comes from directly underneath you. Vitruvian is incredible for heavy compound lifts like deadlifts and squats because it can generate over 440 lbs of resistance—double what Speediance offers. If you are a powerlifter, Vitruvian is your choice.However, the lack of a vertical tower makes Vitruvian awkward for upper body exercises. To do a lat pulldown or a tricep press down, you have to buy a separate tall frame or do weird modifications. Speediance has the vertical tower built-in, making it a true “functional trainer” that can do everything from back squats to overhead tricep extensions naturally. Speediance is a better “complete gym” replacement, while Vitruvian is a better “barbell” replacement.
• Speediance Gym Monster vs. Free Weights (Squat Rack & Dumbbells):Old school iron never glitches. A squat rack and a set of dumbbells will last 100 years; a Speediance might last 5 to 10 before the electronics fail. Free weights offer the “real” feel of gravity and stability training that digital motors can only simulate. If you have a two-car garage and don’t care about “smart” features, you can build an amazing rogue fitness gym for the price of a Speediance.But Speediance wins on convenience and safety. You can’t drop a barbell on your neck with Speediance; the digital weight just turns off. You don’t need to spend time loading and unloading plates. And you definitely can’t fold a squat rack and put it in the closet. Speediance is for the person who values their time and living space over the “hardcore” feel of iron.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

The Speediance Gym Monster is a triumph of compromise. It trades the heavy-duty permanence of a Tonal and the raw power of a Vitruvian for pure, unadulterated convenience and value. It is not perfect—the app is quirky, and the customer support leaves much to be desired—but it delivers on its core promise: a complete, challenging gym experience that fits in a closet and doesn’t charge you rent every month. If you are ready to break up with your gym membership and reclaim your living room, the Speediance is a worthy partner.